round Spring Swap - factory Studs Removed - Photo 05

Cherokees use a combination of studs and bolts to retain the factory transmission crossmember. The factory part is 1⁄8-inch-thick. The T&T belly skid is 3⁄16-inch-thick and uses more than just the factory mounting holes. The factory studs are held in with thread locker and can be difficult to remove but welding the nut to the stud makes removal easy. Even though the studs have been in there for 15 years, the heat from welding loosened them up enough that they came right out with just a wrench.